Summary

Objectives

This two-phase program is aimed at postdoctoral fellows seeking to perfect their training at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) before pursuing careers as independent researchers in Québec.

This career transition awards program aims to establish a long-term career path for postdoctoral fellows from Québec who possess exceptional scientific abilities and ensure that recipients receive the support required to pursue careers as independent researchers upon their return to Québec.

Phase 2 (2 to 3 years): Salary support (career award) and operating grant to facilitate the recipient's return to Québec after training at the NIH and provide support as he/she embarks on a career as an independent researcher (faculty position in a Québec university or research centre). Phase 2 will be launched in Summer 2017.

Important note: It is the responsibility of the applicant to choose the right program and the right form for the award application. No program transfer will be made following the file eligibility review.

1.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Eligible applicants

Applicants with a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) Applicants must have obtained their doctorate no more than two years before October 15, 2016 (except for renewal applications).
This period could be extended by a maximum of one year if the candidate has been on a parental leave after the doctorate.

Canadian citizens or permanent residents domiciled in Québec (see section 2.1 of Common General Rules)
This status must remain in effect for the duration of the award.

Not eligible : incumbents of a university position.

Terms and regulations

Must pursue full-time postdoctoral training in human health sciences research

Supervisor whose laboratory or clinic is located on an NIH research campus (the location must be specified prior to submitting the application form)

Applicants unable to submit their doctoral thesis at the time of applying must provide, no later than September 30, 2017, an attestation that the thesis has been submitted.

Basic research ethics training

Basic research ethics training is compulsory for all FRQS awardees conducting research projects that involve human subjects.

Detailed contributions updated since June 2014 (attachment required through the FRQS Electronic Portfolio on the Canadian Common CV page), consult the document entitled Guidelines for the CV attachment in the Toolbox

Detailed contributions updated since June 2014 (attachment required through the FRQS Electronic Portfolio on the Canadian Common CV page), consult the document entitled Guidelines for the CV attachment in the Toolbox

3.

TRAINING LOCATION

Appoint the award recipient as a Supplemental Visiting Fellow, fulfilling the requirements as described in the NIH policy manual;

Provide assistance in obtaining the appropriate work-authorized immigration status required by the research fellow;

After obtaining the scientific supervisor's approval, provide each Fellow with laboratory and/or clinical space as well as access to databases, computers and other relevant scientific resources available as provided to similar trainees;

Ensure that the award recipient and his/her mentor are aware of NIH guidelines regarding oversight and progress review of each Fellow in the program.

4.

DURATION OF THE AWARD

2 years and possibly 3 years, conditional upon the evaluation of a renewal application. (renewal may be requested only once)

Parental leave

In accordance to section 6.13 of the Common General Rules, the awardee may benefit from an award payment deferral during parental leave (maternity, paternity or adoption) for a maximum period of 12 months. In addition, during this deferral period, the awardee may obtain an award supplement for the parental leave for up to six months, provided that the awardee held the FRQS award for at least 4 months, unless that the awardee is already holding another FRQS award.

The awardee must inform by email the FRQS of his/her intention to take advantage of such deferral for parental leave. Statements from the research supervisor confirming the training interruption for parental leave and a doctor's confirmation of the approximate date of birth have to be joined to the email.

Paternity leave cannot begin until a week after the child's birth. The award holder must attach the birth certificate to his/her request.

Sick leave or other reasons

The awardee may defer his/her award due to illness or other reasons provided by the Loi sur les normes du travail as described in section 6.14 of the Common General Rules. The awardee has to inform by email the FRQS of his/her intention to take advantage of such deferral. Payments will be suspended during this period.

5.

AMOUNT OF THE AWARD

The award will be paid to the awardee by installments sent to the address of his/or her institution.

Income Tax

The awardee is responsible for paying the income tax due on amounts received from the FRQS. No taxes are withheld at source by the FRQS on amounts disbursed during the tax year in question.

The date the amount is granted determines the year in which the awardee must declare the amounts received as income for personal tax calculations.

Revenu Canada's T4A form and Revenu Québec's form 1 are sent to the awardee's mailing address (the one shown in the Module My funding (Gérer mon financement) in the FRQS Electronic Portfolio) in February of the following year of taxation.

The details provided in this form are for information purposes only. The FRQS is not responsible for the validity of the information given about income tax.

Indirect Costs of Research

This program does not benefit from the amount paid out by FRQS to cover indirect costs of research of the institutions.

6.

OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING

Concurrent funding

Holding several scholarships is not allowed. Awardees who obtained an award from another public agency or a foundation recognized by the FRQS must notify the FRQS and decline the FRQS funding as soon as the award is offered. However, if the amount of the other award is lower than the FRQS' one, the awardee is eligible to receive the difference.

Relocation and travel expenses

The awardee will be reimbursed for any relocation expenses at the start and end of the first phase of the award, up to US $3,000.

In addition, every year, the awardee will be reimbursed for travel expenses (economy class) to Québec upon the presentation of supporting documents (up to two return trips per year).

Benefits

Standard health insurance coverage provided by the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES)-NIH for the awardee and his/her family (if applicable) will be paid for by the FRQS.

7.

EVALUATION

Process

All applications are reviewed by committees of experts representing various disciplines and institutions.

Criteria and weightingFirst application

Quality of the research project
- Clarity and conciseness of the research topic
- Clarity and consistency between the hypotheses and objectives
- Relevance of the methods and analyses
- Feasibility
- Originality of the project and contribution to the advancement of knowledge

Quality of training environment
- Justification of the candidate's choice
- Quality of supervisor's publication record related to student training record

15
5
10

Excellence of academic record
- Awards, honours, and distinctions

15
15

Criteria and weightingRenewal application

Research project's state of advancement since the start of postdoctoral training- Level of completion of the project in view of the methodology
- Justification for renewal and potential for successful outcome
- Research supervisor's evaluation

60

20
20
20

Achievements since the start of postdoctoral training
- Lectures and presentations
- Publications

Authorize the FRQS to retain and use the personal and scientific information included in the application documents, in keeping with the terms outlined in the document Accès aux documents et protection des renseignements personnels and provided that the people who are granted access to the information respect its confidentiality.

10.

KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION

The FRQS encourages awardees to conduct and participate in knowledge mobilization activities (transfer, sharing, development, enhancement and dissemination) with practice settings and the general public, where such activities are relevant. Please read the document Knowledge Mobilization in the toolbox.